Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
[typically hosted every first Monday, except for September]
Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
[typically hosted every first Monday, except for September]
Find us at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market!
[you can find us during the Farmer’s Market season about once / month]
Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
[hosted every first Monday]
Find us at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market!
[you can find us during the Farmer’s Market season about once / month]
Hike Hangs: Lake Sequoyah
[hosted every month, date / time varies]
Join other hospitality industry workers for a weekday hike hang. Bring your sketchbook, snacks, or a book to read at the top of the trail! Please feel free to invite any friends (in any industry) that might enjoy a weekday moment in nature.
Industry Coffee Group with Sicarú and WORD Coffee
[hosted every second Tuesday]
Level up your coffee knowledge with FIRA member businesses, Sicarú Coffee Roasters and WORD Coffee!
Each meetup we will discuss 3 high-quality coffees that are indicative of a specific region &/or style. This conversation based group is hosted in a relaxed, expectation-free environment. Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.
Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
[hosted every first Monday]
Join other local community members involved in food recovery and food insecurity for a coffee and conversation at one of Fayetteville’s newest community-focused coffee shop!
Workshop: Food Photography Masterclass & Restaurant Content Crawl [hosted by Experience Fayetteville]
Join Experience Fayetteville for a free two-day workshop designed to help local restaurant owners, marketers, and hospitality teams create stronger food and beverage content using just a smartphone.
Hosted by culinary creators Karen & Gavin (@coupleinthekitchen), this hands-on experience combines classroom learning with real-world content creation at local restaurants.
Hike Hangs: Joe Clark Trail
Join other hospitality industry workers for a weekday hike hang. Bring your sketchbook, snacks, or a book to read at the top of the trail! Please feel free to invite any friends (in any industry) that might enjoy a weekday moment in nature.
Industry Cheese Group at Bloom Cheese Collective
Level up your cheese knowledge with FIRA member business, Bloom Cheese Collective!
This recurring, industry gathering provides an opportunity to learn more about cheese and cheesemaking processes in a casual, conversation based group. Registration required!
Find us at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market!
We’ll be set up at our favorite local farmer’s market with information about our mission. Come chat with a FIRA member about our member businesses, opportunities to join / volunteer / donate, or to discuss potential job openings in the area!
Fayetteville Restaurant Week [hosted by Experience Fayetteville]
Experience Fayetteville today announced the return of Fayetteville Restaurant Week, taking place July 17–26, 2026. The event will feature an expanded 10-day format and new programming designed to showcase the depth and creativity of the city’s food and beverage scene. Join FIRA member businesses for Fayetteville Restaurant Week! [details below]
Industry Coffee Group with Sicarú and WORD Coffee
Level up your coffee knowledge with FIRA member businesses, Sicarú Coffee Roasters and WORD Coffee!
Each meetup we will discuss 3 high-quality coffees that are indicative of a specific region &/or style. This conversation based group is hosted in a relaxed, expectation-free environment. Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.
Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
Join other local community members involved in food recovery and food insecurity for a coffee and conversation at one of Fayetteville’s newest community-focused coffee shop!
Walk with us in the NWA Pride Parade!
Walk with Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance in the NWA Pride Parade! We are showing up loud, proud, and in full support of our LGBTQIA+ hospitality community!
As a volunteer walker, you will get to help represent Fayetteville's independent restaurants, spread awareness about the HERO fund for hospitality workers, and celebrate our amazing and diverse community during the largest pride parade in the state! Come prepared to take a slow walk down Dickson Street and be showered with love and cheers!
Community Yard Sale at Handshake [NEW!]
Handshake is hosting their first annual community yard sale, and you’re invited! Come spend the day with us and support your neighbors and buy their cool stuff.
In addition to our regular info booth, FIRA volunteers will be selling the Protect Fayetteville line from Pretty Good Neighbors - which benefits the HERO Fund!
Industry Cheese Group at Bloom Cheese Collective
Level up your cheese knowledge with FIRA member business, Bloom Cheese Collective!
This recurring, industry gathering provides an opportunity to learn more about cheese and cheesemaking processes in a casual, conversation based group. Registration required!
Burning Through the Basics (4 parts) [Tues. 6/16, Thurs. 6/18, Tues. 6/23, + Thurs. 6/25]
Earn your ServSafe® Food Handler Certification and learn all about kitchen basics in this four-part restaurant readiness series.
Find us at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market!
We’ll be set up at our favorite local farmer’s market with information about our mission. Come chat with a FIRA member about our member businesses, opportunities to join / volunteer / donate, or to discuss potential job openings in the area!
Hike Hangs: Mount Sequoyah Trail
Join other hospitality industry workers for a weekday hike hang. Bring your sketchbook, snacks, or a book to read at the top of the trail! Please feel free to invite any friends (in any industry) that might enjoy a weekday moment in nature.
Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
Level up your wine knowledge with FIRA member business, Hotvine Wine Shop!
This recurring meetup is a communal tasting focused on better understanding how to taste new wines, enjoy your favorites, and help the customer find what they’re really looking for.
Each meetup will focus on a specific theme, (varietal, region, etc), and we’ll taste and discuss 5 wines related to the theme in a relaxed, expectation-free environment.
Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.
Registration is required, and tickets are $15 + tax (due the day of). 👇👇👇
Industry Coffee Group with Sicarú and WORD Coffee
Level up your coffee knowledge with FIRA member businesses, Sicarú Coffee Roasters and WORD Coffee!
Each meetup we will discuss 3 high-quality coffees that are indicative of a specific region &/or style. This conversation based group is hosted in a relaxed, expectation-free environment. Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification (2 parts, Mon. 6/8 + Tues. 6/9) [waitlist is open]
Earn your ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certificate in this two-day course and get your culinary leadership career started on the right foot!
Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
Join other local community members involved in food recovery and food insecurity for a coffee and conversation at one of Fayetteville’s newest community-focused coffee shop!
NWA Harm Reduction x FIRA at Sidecar Cocktail Lounge
Join us in connecting with our local hospitality community for a FIRA x NWA Harm Reduction training opportunity!
FIRA will be set up with an info booth and NWA Harm Reduction will be set up with a training booth. Come learn more about both of these non-profits and receive life-saving training on how to administer Narcan, utilize fentanyl test strips, and more.
Find us at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market!
We’ll be set up at our favorite local farmer’s market with information about our mission. Come chat with a FIRA member about our member businesses, opportunities to join / volunteer / donate, or to discuss potential job openings in the area!
Find us at Downtown Fayetteville's Strawberry Festival!
If you’re looking for one of the best spring festivals in Fayetteville, the annual Fayetteville Strawberry Festival is a can’t-miss event. Hosted by the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition, this beloved community celebration returns to the Historic Downtown Square for a weekend filled with local flavor, live music, and family-friendly fun.
Now in its third year, the festival serves as a free, vibrant kickoff to summer in Northwest Arkansas—bringing together visitors and locals alike to experience the region’s food, culture, and creativity.
Hike Hangs: Smoke House Trail
Join other hospitality industry workers for a weekday hike hang. Bring your sketchbook, snacks, or a book to read at the top of the trail! Please feel free to invite any friends (in any industry) that might enjoy a weekday moment in nature.
Australian Legend Wines Workshop with Brightwater
Join the Brightwater team in a structured, sommelier-led exploration of modern Australian wine, presented in partnership with Legend Wine Imports and led by Master Sommelier Jonathan Ross. The focus of this workshop is to deliver a high-level but approachable educational experience that connects theory to real-world application in this industry-only session for both culinary students and industry professionals alike.
F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville
Experience Fayetteville will host free, in-person F&B Marketing Essentials workshops designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement marketing strategies for local restaurant operators. Topics will include current marketing trends, simple social media strategies, and ways to make the most of Fayetteville Restaurant Week and other high-traffic moments throughout the year. Two sessions will be offered at 9:00–10:30 a.m. and 1:00–2:30 p.m. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville
Experience Fayetteville will host free, in-person F&B Marketing Essentials workshops designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement marketing strategies for local restaurant operators. Topics will include current marketing trends, simple social media strategies, and ways to make the most of Fayetteville Restaurant Week and other high-traffic moments throughout the year. Two sessions will be offered at 9:00–10:30 a.m. and 1:00–2:30 p.m. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
Level up your wine knowledge with FIRA member business, Hotvine Wine Shop!
This recurring meetup is a communal tasting focused on better understanding how to taste new wines, enjoy your favorites, and help the customer find what they’re really looking for.
Each meetup will focus on a specific theme, (varietal, region, etc), and we’ll taste and discuss 5 wines related to the theme in a relaxed, expectation-free environment.
Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.
Registration is required, and tickets are $15 + tax (due the day of). 👇👇👇
Strengthening our Food Community: Addressing Food Recovery & Food Insecurity
Join other local community members involved in food recovery and food insecurity for a coffee and conversation at one of Fayetteville’s newest community-focused coffee shop!
